LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 859, 4 July 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The t.s.s. Maheno, with English mails via Brindisi, and tho mails from Australia, arrived at Auckland at 11.M0 a.m. yesterday. Tho Wellington and southern portions of tho mail will arrive in town this afternoon. Quito a number of "Kangaroo" coins have made their appearance in tho Dominion. Upon the face appears a representation of King Edward VII, who is wearing a crown. It is surrounded by an inscription as follows: "Edwardus VII, 1). G., Britt. Onin., 11.I 1 . D., Ind. Imp." On the other, side is a shield with a kangaroo and emu on either side, a star on top, and the words "Advance Australia" beneath'. Tho denomination of the coin and the year of mintage also appear on the obverse side. So far traders and others refuse to accept any of the new Commonwealth coins, which are easily distinguishable from the coins in use. in New Zealand. A special meeting of the Miramar Borough Council has been called for to-night, Ut consldct a petition signed by 400 ratepayers against any increase of the train fares. A court-martial was hold aboard H.M.S. Pioneer on Saturday morning, when a naval reservist was dismissed from tho service- for insobriety and misconduct. Tho offender was a stoker with two years' service. The railway authorities have decided to run another train on the ThorndonJohnsonvillo lino next Saturday and' for a few other Saturdays until it is seen whether it should be kept running permanently. It will leave tho Thorndon Station about 12.30 p.m., and, according to Mr. Luke,- M.P., who has been interesting himself in the matter, should prove a great boon to residents in the suburbs. At the Town Hall this evening, the much-discussed case, of ox-Captain P. B. Knyvott will bo ventilated at the public meeting, over which Mr. J. P. Luke, it.P., is to preside. Tho speakers will bo Messrs. C. H. Poole, T. E. Taylor, and D. M'Laren, members of Parliament, and Messrs. A. J. Black and Gerald Pcacocke, of Auckland. Captain Knyvcft's supporters base their agitation upon the contention that he did not receive a fair trial, and the general issue which tho public is desired to be acquainted with is that since Uio Government, has announced that there is no provision at pre-, sent for granting a new trial for that officer, and as it will tio necessary for special legislation to be passed in order to mako a new trial possiblo, provision Should bo made in t.hc Defence Act whereby any member of tho forces may have Hie right of appeal upon his conviction upon a charge of transgressing the regulations. Asked by a Dominion reporter as to the position of tho Orormki shalo works, Mr. Thomson, M.P. for Wallace, stated that there were said to bo good prospects of the current boring operations proving successful. Tho object (he continued) was to ascertain tho txact extent of tho shalo area, and if it were found that the results were successful it was almost certain that the works would be reopened. It is now ten years asro siuco the works, which cost about .£IOO,OOO, were in operation. When asked if it were true that a big company was being formed to treat ore at Oropuki, said to contain radium, Mr. Thomson said that he had heard nothing definite in regard to the matter, nor had ho seen any specimens. The fortnightly korero of the Wellington Orphans' Club was held at tho Marine Engineers' Institute on Saturday evening, when Colonal Collins (vicepresident) presided over a large gathering of members. Among the visitors wore several officers from H.M.S. Pioneer, members of tho "Wellington and Wanganui Savage Clubs, and Mr. Barry Coney, the well-known Auckland professional baritone. Tho programmo was an exceptionally good one. The chairman regaled tho orphans with some amusing rominiscences '.'i' his career as a member of the volunteer force. Then there wore musical items by the club's orchestra, under Mr. Herbert Bloy, songs by Messrs. Hickinott, Toms, Sievers, Ronald Robertson, Lees, Reid, J. P. Can-, Fletcher, and Absolum. Mr. Barry Coney met with a splendid reception. li'o sang "The Yeoman's Wedding Song," and, as an encore item, sang Lohr's "Little Irish 'Girl." Recitations were also given by Messrs. R. Keenan, Robinson, and O. Sinnel. At the next gathering of tho club" Professor T. If. Laby, of the Chair of Physics at Victoria College, will givo a lecturetto on the subject of "Electricity.'" Absconding firemen were responsible f<jr delaying the departure of tho New Zealand Shipping Company's Waimnto for London on Saturday. She was to have sailed at daylight, but three or four members of tho crew were not at their posts at that time. A search in tho city resulted in tho discovery of some of the absentees, and the transfer of a man from t.ho Ruapohu completed tho vessel's complement. She sailed for London in the afternoon. The members of t.ho Ohinomuri River Silting Commission will meet in Wellington this week for the purpose of revising their report, which is to be presented !o the Governor. The postmaster at Kaikoura advised the secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department on Saturday that tho Kahnulani River is in flood, ami that tho mail coach overturned whilst attempting to cross that morning. The king-bolt came out and the I'orecarriago was swept to sea. One horse was drowned. An attempt is now being made to recover tho coach and mails, which are still in Uio river. Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdrossing, Manicuring. Pace Massage, Treatment of Falling Hair, and Dandruff. Ccfmbings made up. Natural Hair-pads. Mrs. liollestoii (over Carroll's), 14 Willis Street. 'Phono 159P.—Advt,

At the last meeting of tho Wellington Harbour Board it was decided to do away with that obstruction to traffic at the entra.nc« to the Queen's Wharf proper, called the "barricade." This consists of a boak-sUtll on the south and largo notice board on the north side, both of which servo to narrow the entrance to the wharf to about 20ft. It is considered that tho book-stall and the public telephone bureau, which it contains—the existence of which has never boon madesufficient!)- obvious—is a public conveniencf, mi that, instead of dispensing with it altogether, Mr. J. llarchbanks, the board's engineer, has designed a neat little structure, to be built of wood, with a. roof of Marseilles tiles, and erected on ih.Hi section oi "island" footpath, just inside the big iron gates, and opposite Hi* entrance to tho Harbour Board's chief office. This building (23ft. Win. by Bft. ilin.) will provide accommodation for a book-still, a telephone bureau, and n "sentry-box" for tho board's offioial. who controls the outward traffic. Another box will be provided outside tho tolls office for the official in charge of tho inward traffic. The new arrangement should he a considerable improvement on the existing order of things at the wharf entrance. The second quarterly sittings of the Court of Appeal open this morning. Tho Municipal Conference of New Zealand, which is held in Wellington every second year, will commence at 10 o'clock this morning in tho City Council Chambers, and us expected to last at least Uireo days. Tho Mayor of Wellington will preside. Passengers by the overland ronte from tho West Coast to Christclvurch on Friday had an exceedingly bleak journey. Snow was lying deep on the ground towards the top of, the Gorge, and all the way to Broken Eiver the ground was white with its snowy covering. Tho beauty of the scene made some amends for its inhospitable coldness. On May 5 (says . the 'Telonis Guardian") a launch was stolen from its moorings in Picton Harbour, and the police aro anxious for information concerning it. The owner had gone to Picton, and had left tho launch securely moored. It is stated that at dusk that evening ■ another launch was seen to go alongside and shortly afterwards the two were seen going down the Sounds. Various reports have since been in circulation concerning the whereabouts of the boat. A very enjoyable evaniag was spent at Scott's Rooms, Manners Street, on Saturday night, w.hcn about fifty of Messrs. Luke's foundry apprentices and friemls held a smoke concert. ' Mt. F. Lisle presided, and the duties of secretary were carried cut by Mr. Parker. Among the toasts honoured were "The King," "The Firm," and "Tho Chairman." Song 3 were contributed -... by Messrs. lisle, Thompson, Wisharf, and Crockett; recitations by Messrs. Sadler and Taylor; a violin solo by Mr. Median; and a piano solo by Mr. Batten. It is intended to make the gathering an annual one.